Chase Utley Returns From Thumb Injury, Activated From DL By Phillies

Big happy news for Phillies fans all around!

Utley played all of three games with A-ball Clearwater, going 3-12. The consensus opinion seems to be that it’ll be a little while before he’s back and playing like his normal self, but in the meantime, some approximation of the normal Chase Utley will be welcomed.

So much for late August/early September? It seems Chase Utley may be on the verge of returning to the Phillies’ lineup:

The Phillies have made no definitive statements regarding Utley’s return, but Will Carroll agrees with the notion that he could and should come back early this week. Which isn’t to say that he’ll be at 100 percent from the get-go, but just being able to pencil Utley’s name into the lineup card should provide a tremendous boost.

Great news for the Phillies as they battle for their postseason hopes:

Utley had the splint removed from his thumb last Friday, and has been throwing and playing catch for a little while. This, though, is the biggest step in his recovery to date, and he’s on track to return in early September, if not at the end of August.

Chase Utley had surgery on his thumb Thursday, and Phillies beat writer Todd Zolecki comes through with the timetable:

The difference between this 8 weeks and the initially-estimated 4-6 weeks isn’t enormous, but it’s pretty big when you’re talking about a player of Utley’s caliber. Look for the Phillies to ramp up their trade talk as they search for a suitable fill-in.

Chase Utley’s thumb surgery -- a surgery that was only just decided would be needed Thursday morning -- is scheduled to take place in New York City later today, according to a release put out by the team.

The next question then becomes, for how long with the second baseman be out of the lineup? Initially, Peter Gammons speculated “five or six weeks.” The Phillies have not yet determined a timetable for his return, and won’t until they know more after the surgery, but this type of procedure usually requires a recovery period of 4-6 weeks, and “sources ... said he could be sidelined anywhere between 4 and 8 weeks.”

Utley stayed in the game Monday night, but was eventually replaced by a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning.

The Good Phight is already calling this the “Infield Armageddon.” Or, reacting quite appropriately, really: